What a breakup record this is!! On Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart,
There are many, many amazing songs on this album, and some are epic; like What If I Leave, a song that just jars me to the core. It’s a simple question that she ponders throughout the song, but the way in which it is coupled with the aching cello that backs her ponderous guitar picking, makes it so real and raw that it is just breath taking. Rachael has been a bit more rock and roll in the past, and with this record, she is only proving that she more than comfortable with her softer, more stripped down side as well. She isn’t afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, and to show you that she bled to get here. Despite the overarching theme of despair, she does offer some glimmer of hope in love, in amazingly beautiful songs like Duet, where she is joined by Ray LaMontagne on one of the most beautiful collaborations of the year. That song is just everything that is beautiful about music.
After being subdued and lulled into a sense of heartbreak with Elephants, Rachael really turns up the dial on the second CD, Teeth Sinking Into Heart, and as the name implies, she really plunges the knife in deep. On this second CD, she has physically separated the ache from the anger (in making it a separate CD), and shows a side of her that indicates that she might have been burned, but she isn’t going to take it lying down. Rachael takes us through the stages of break up throughout the course of this album, and the result is an amazing set of songs that range in emotion and intimacy, but do so beautifully throughout. I will say that I liked Rachael before, but after hearing Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart,
Sparkle Factor: 
Standouts: What If I Leave [audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_1024_rachaelyamagata-whatifileave.mp3]
Elephants, Duet, Faster.
Wow. Pure. Raw. Emotion. You can literally feel it in each downbeat, and in each whisper from Rachael that she is contemplating something so intimate and difficult, that she almost doesn’t have the strength to utter it. Then, the simplicity of repeating, “what if I leave?”, is so palpable, that in hearing this song, you can truly tell that she has been through some shit in a relationship with someone who clearly didn’t understand the ramifications of their actions. Wow. This is such a powerfully contemplative break up song, that I was blown away by it. I absolutely love it for it’s simplicity, which actually makes it so elegant and sophisticated. If you liked this track as much as I do, I highly suggest you pick up Rachael’s most recent release, Elephants… Teeth Sinking In, because it is chock full of bittersweet gems like this one.
This song initially didn’t sway me, because I was skeptical (as you know I can be) for no real reason at all. However, there was something about it that I liked… the guitars, the way the used the starting and stopping of the riffs and the beats, the tenderness of the lead singer’s voice… something kept me coming back to this song. Whatever it was (perhaps the amalgamation of all of those things), I have been listening to this track over and over, and I can say now, without a shadow of a doubt, that I freaking love this song. It is so catchy, and so well crafted, that just begs to be played. I love the toe-tapping beat, and especially enjoy the lead singer’s voice. It is just a great song. After a few listens to the rest of the Wild Sweet Orange record, I definitely think that I have stumbled onto something here, and I am very glad that I kept going back to this track and gave it the shot it definitely deserved. Let this song grow on you if you don’t love it instantly… trust me. It is excellent!
This is one of those songs that I have heard many, many times, and even though I really liked it, I wasn’t motivated enough to download it (what can I say, I’m lazy). Maybe it was because the song is kind of “old” (out in ’06), or maybe it was because it is played a LOT on XM, but whatever the reason, I didn’t pick this one up until the other day (after I heard it again on XM). Well, I have to say, that I am glad that I did, because after listening to it on my ipod, I really realized that this song is MAJOR. This song harnesses some great rock power and great guitar riffs, and it sounds like a blending of the best of Filter with the raw power of Fuel. Now I can see why XM loves this track so much… it’s freaking great. Oh, and after listening to it once, you WILL be singing along. It is infectious… don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Oh Ben Folds. How I love thee!!! I have loved Ben Folds for MANY years (since back when he was with the Ben Folds Five), and my love only grew after his first solo release, Rockin’ The Suburbs, which is a fantastical album. Well, he just released his newest solo effort, Way To Normal, and even though I wasn’t initially blown away, I have definitely enjoyed this record more and more with each passing listen. There are so many fun things about Ben Folds, and his quirky stories and silly lyrics really make him a joy to listen to. I absolutely LOVE the teaming with Regina Spektor on this track, which is a fun, and almost sugary piano-pop track that just can’t be listened to without a smile on your face. There aren’t many artists out there like Ben Folds who are willing to take a stab at music, and make it less serious, and ultimately more fun… he is a welcome addition to my music collection, and has been for quite a while. I am glad that he is still bringing the goods, and making fun music that I definitely enjoy.
I was torn about featuring this track, because of the response a fellow 
Whoa. This song is a huge, fantastic SURPRISE!!! It has all of the energy and spunk that I love in groups like Paramore; in fact, the blazing guitar riffs, and the high range of the singer borrow a lot from that sound that I love so much. With this song, this “little Irish girl” is showing us that acts like Kelly Clarkson may have to step up their game, because they are no longer alone in this music scene. If there is any justice in this world, this song is going to be HUGE!!!! I love it and I can’t wait to see what Lesley has in store for us next. I have seen some buzz about her on the internets (specifically over at arjan writes), and all of the buzz seems to be the same; this chick is hot! Here’s hoping her album comes out soon, and we get to see what she’s all about! I like what I’ve heard on her myspace, so if that is any indicator, I can tell you I am definitely looking forward to more from Ms. Roy.
I briefly mentioned Alanis’ new album, Flavors of Entanglement last week; however, it was before I was able to truly absorb the record. I was (kind of) surprised to find a really decent effort from Alanis, not because I didn’t think she had it in her, but because of how different and ever changing her music has been in the past. Listening to Flavors, she has reminded me of why I liked her so much in the past; she has some great songs in her catalog, and with this record, she only adds to that list. This, so far, is my favorite song on the record. I love the softness of the song, and how her voice is so beautiful on it. I also love the lyrics. I am glad that Alanis is back! (Although, did she really go anywhere?!?!)
I can’t believe I am FINALLY featuring this song (I’ve been meaning to, but it kept getting pushed off of the list)! After seeing Rachael open for Sara Bareilles a couple of months ago, I have been absolutely smitten with this track, which in my opinion, is her most beautiful, honest, and touching. While some of her other stuff is a bit heavier than I like, this song is so light and beautiful, that you can’t help but love it. Rachael has some new material out now on an EP, and has a new album coming out this year. I can’t wait to hear it, because I really loved her in concert, and I like this album as well. This is one of those acts that not a lot of people know about, and when you hear them, you wonder why, because the talent is so clearly obvious.